Flying machine



April 21, 1931. J. J. F'ITZ GERALQ/ 1,801,418

FLYING MACHINE 7 Filed Dec. 18, 1929 INVENTOR A-TTORNEY Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNITED STATES JAMES J. FITZGERALD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FLYING MACHINE Application filed December 18, 1929.

This invention relates to heavier-than-air type of flying machines in which the weight is carried by wings while in flight and are advanced by the rapid revolution of a propeller.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an aeroplane having the characteristic cigar shaped outline, a pontoon attached to its under surface, and a pair of to widely spaced landing wheels arranged on opposite sides of the pontoon, these wheels being foldable closely adjacent the fuselage body when desired.

A further feature is the provision of a single vertical stabilizer on which is connected a directional rudder operated from the pilots seat.

The most important purpose is in the provision of a series of three pairs of wings,

each of which is arranged on the cantilever principle with cambered tops, and provided with the usual ailerons whereby the fuselage is supported and balanced in an unusually effective manner, a greater wing spread being thus obtained than otherwise possible, while at the same time the structure is small and compact.

These highly important objects are obtained by the novel design, construction,

combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View showing an aeroplane made in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is atop plan view of the same. As indicated in the drawing, the fuselage 5 is of the cigar shape type provided with windows 6 and 7, respectively for the use of the pilot and passengers, the former occupying the seat indicated by the numeral 8. At the extreme front of the fuselage is a propeller 9 driven by a motor arranged internally of the structure and at its rear is a rigid stabilizer 10 to which is hingedly attached a steering rudder 11.

Directly below the fuselage is a pontoon 12, the forward portion 12 of which is extended slightlybelow the plane of the main portion Serial No. 414,861.

to act as a keel and attached to the fuselage, i l

on each side of the pontoon, by pivots 13 are two pairs of arms 14 having mounted at their lower ends a pair of ground or taxi wheels 7 15, the arrangement being such that the wheels may be folded rearwardlyunder the main portion of the fuselage when the device is used as a seaplane, for which purpose the rear end of the pontoon is extended in the manner of arudder.

Rigidly attached to the upper forward portion of the fuselage are two opposed wings 16 arranged on the cantilever principle, their upper surfaces being cambered and provided at their outer portions, in their rear edges with ailerons 17. 7

Midway in the length of the fuselage body, substantially in the plane of its horizontal axis, are another set of wings 18 somewhat shorter but of the same general type. as the wings 16 and are like them provided with ailerons 19.

Further to the rear and below the plane in the center of the fuselage, over the rear wheels 15 is a third pair of wings 20 provided with ailerons 21, which extend the full length of the wing.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the pairs of wings are distributed longitudinally of the body in accordance with its length so as to effectively support and balance the structure and, due to their staggered relation these wing couples provide a portion of the buoyancy necessary to maintain the aeroplane in flight.

The foregoing disclosure is to be regarded as descriptive and illustrative only, and not as restrictive or limitative of the invention, of which obviously an embodiment may be constructed including many modifications without departing from the general scope herein indicated and denoted in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An airplane having a substantially cigar-shaped fuselage, a tractor propeller at the nose of the fuselage providing the sole propelling means for the airplane; a pair of laterally extending wings at the front portion of the fuselage, above the longitudinal axis thereof, an intermediate pair of shorter, laterally extending wings to the rear of and below the first pair of wings, and located substantially in the longitudinal axis of the fuselage, a third pair of still shorter wings located to the rear of the intermediate pair of wings, and below the longitudinal axis of the fuselage, and ailerons on each pair of Wings, the ailerons on the third pair of wings extending for substantially the entire length of said Wings.

2. An airplane having a substantially cigar-shaped fuselage, a tractor propeller at the nose of the fuselage providing the sole propelling means for the airplane, a pair of laterally extending wings at the front portion of the fuselage, above the longitudinal axis thereof, an intermediate pair of shorter, laterally extending wii'igs to the rear of and below the first pair of planes, and located substantially in the longitudinal axis of the fuselage, a third pair of still shorter wings, located to the rear of the intermediate pair of wings, and below the longitudinal axis of the fuselage, ailerons on each pair of wings, the ailerons on the third pair of wings extending for substantially the entire length of said wings, a pontoon body below the fuselage, and two pairs of retractible landing wheels on said pontoon body for providing a four point landing means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

JAMES J. FITZGERALD. 

